Communique 12 May 2022

The Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme Working Group met for its annual meeting in via teleconference on the 12 May 2022.

Role of the SIPS Working Group: The SIPS Working Group provides advice to Fisheries Queensland on the guidelines and funding associated with the Stocked Impoundment Scheme (SIPS). The Working Group also provides advice on potential future enhancement to SIPS. The Working Group is a non-statutory advisory body. It is not a decision-making body.

New members of the Working Group were welcomed and it was noted two members had resigned from the Working Group since the previous meeting. The Group welcomed a non-participatory observer to the meeting from Warwick Fish Stocking Association Inc. Members provided an update on their regions and groups. The impacts of flooding on fish and infrastructure were noted in most regions. This included loss of fish over dam walls, fish kills and potential damage to fish attracting structures. It was noted there were increased numbers of people fishing in some impoundments in the northern region.

FFSAQ provided an update on planning for the Freshwater Fisheries Workshop which is scheduled for October 2022, progress on the SIPS trail guide which is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year and fish trailer display events. Fisheries Queensland provided an update on freshwater fisheries management including staffing changes, development of the monitoring guideline and an update from the freshwater Working Group meeting. QBFP provided a verbal compliance update to the group. Compliance rates were relatively high within freshwater rivers and impoundments with failure to mark traps, fishing in closed waters, use of set lines, take of undersize fish and failure to have SIPS permit the most common offences. The Working Group noted non-compliance in relation to SIPS permits remains a concern and requested further information regarding percentage of cautions versus fines for SIPS related offences.

Fisheries Queensland provided the Working Group with an update on the SIPS acquittals received and outstanding acquittals for the 2021 Grant. The Working Group noted several carry over applications which were all supported. The working group noted further applications for carry over were expected, including one which would be for a carry over of greater than two years of funding. The Working Group did not support any applications involving the carry over of greater than two years of funding which is consistent with the Guideline on the Administration of Queensland’s Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme. The Working Group noted there were a small number of outstanding acquittals.

Fisheries Queensland advised a survey of SIPS permit holders was conducted in March-April 2021. The Working Group noted there was a significant improvement in survey participation this year due to several survey modifications. This included the removal of the login requirement and an option to enter a random number to take the survey anonymously.

The Working Group noted the indicative allocations based on the formula in the Guideline on the Administration of Queensland’s Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme. It was noted the total SIPS revenue for this year was tracking to be similar to last year. The Working Group supported further investigation of utilising an average for angler participation as part of the allocation formula for SIPS.

The Working Group discussed the one application for Community Engagement Funding by FFSAQ for funding the Native and Pest Fishing Education Display calendar of events for 2022/23. This was supported by all Working Group members. In addition, there were two applications for three impoundments for disaster recovery funding. Ten thousand dollars in total are made available each year through the SIPS scheme to support stocking groups after major fish kills/losses The Working Group supported an equal allocation of the funding available between the three impoundments who applied.

The working group was introduced to Mr Dallas D’Silva who has recently joined Fisheries Queensland as Executive Director. The working group noted his experiences in Victorian fisheries management and welcomed his views on further development of freshwater fisheries in Queensland.

The Working Group discussed a proposal to trial the stocking of jungle perch in suitable impoundments. The Working Group supported a trial of stocking jungle perch. The working group noted that funding should be sourced from multiple locations.  It was noted that groups involved in the trials may use their SIP’s funds for fingerlings if they were in the management plan or permit.

Expanding the SIPS program to include redclaw, modernisation of stocking groups and a proposal by SEQ water to make Wivenhoe Dam a marine zone were issues raised by the Working Group for further discussion.

The working group agreed that the next meeting should occur in October 2022.

The SIPS Working Group members are: Tony Ham (Chair, Fisheries Queensland), Thomas Hart (Representative, Fisheries Queensland), John Dexter (Representative, Fisheries Queensland),  Christelle Legrand (Representative, Fisheries Queensland), Charlie Ladd (Delegate, Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland) Kaidon Anderson (Delegate, Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland), Garry Fitzgerald (Member, South East), Noel Frost (Member, South East.), Bob Reid (Member, Murray Darling), Greg Green (Member, Burnett), Kris Lassig (Member, Central), Josh Lyon (Member, Northern), Ian Leighton (Member, Northern).

Observer/s: Mario Sala

Presenter/s: Paul Kuhn (QBFP)